Madonsela laments ‘derailed dream of SA’
Eroded social justice as highlighted by killing of women irks ex-protector
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela took a moment to reflect on the brutality of the world we live in during an alumni networking event at Wits University in Johannesburg yesterday. Madonsela said we were living in “paradoxical times”. “On the one hand‚ we’re the most advanced species on the earth‚ but on the other hand we are becoming more brutal than animals,” Madonsela said. “How many girls have been killed in the last few days? How many have been kidnapped? “And not just killed‚ killed in the most brutal way imaginable. I think the story of Karabo [Mokoena] touched everyone‚ somebody killing them because you say you don’t love them anymore‚ and they are burning you like an animal. So that is the world we live in.” However‚ despite reflecting on the brutality women faced in South Africa‚ Madonsela also pointed out that the world was still good in some places. Voted as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2014‚ Madonsela believes she got where she managed to get to through the generosity of human beings. “What world do we live in today? If we want peace‚ we must ensure that democracy fosters the free potential and improved quality of life and justice for all with none left behind. As long as there is injustice somewhere‚ there can’t be sustainable peace anywhere.”
She also talked about the failures of governance and societal issues including polarisation.
“We are having growing governance failure‚ including systemic service failure and corruption; we are having growing societal polarisation‚ Coligny is one of those examples. It’s not just here in South Africa‚ it is all over the world.”
Madonsela further said there were growing “unhealthy levels of civil apathy”‚ where people would rather take the law into their own hands instead of going through the right channels.
Despite all this‚ Madonsela remained optimistic.
“The South Africa of our dreams is in our hands. This [what we are currently experiencing] is not the South Africa of our dreams. What is unfolding is South Africa derailed.
“Whatever we do‚ let’s make sure that we do it with integrity.
“It is important that we restore justice in the world and ensure social justice. We must find a way to bridge the gap of inequality and poverty.”
We are having growing failures in governance, including systemic service failure Thuli Madonsela FORMER PUBLIC PROTECTOR